Triggering anchor launchers for heart valve repair/replacement anchors

Abstract

A loop of material can be affixed to a cardiac annulus using a plurality of anchors. Each of these anchors is launched into the annulus by a respective anchor launcher, and each of these anchor launchers is triggered by pulling on a respective pull wire. This application is directed to methods and apparatuses that automate the pulling of these pull wires using a plurality of actuators. Each actuator includes a channel with a compressed spring disposed in a distal portion of the channel. A tab is affixed to the proximal end of the spring. When the tab is moved from a first position to a second position, the spring becomes free to expand. The expanding springs pull the pull wires in a proximal direction, which triggers the anchor launchers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for triggering a plurality of anchor launchers, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of actuators housed in a housing, each of the actuators having
 (a) a channel that runs through the housing in a proximal-to-distal direction, 
 (b) a shoulder disposed adjacent to the channel, 
 (c) a compressed spring disposed in a distal portion of the channel, the spring having a fixed distal end and a movable proximal end, wherein the channel is configured to permit expansion of the spring in a proximal direction, 
 (d) a tab that is affixed to the proximal end of the spring, wherein the tab is configured to be movable between (i) a first position in which movement of the tab in a proximal direction is blocked by the shoulder, and (ii) a second position in which movement of the tab in a proximal direction is not blocked by the shoulder, 
 wherein the channel, the shoulder, the spring, and the tab are configured so that that when the tab is moved from the first position to the second position, the spring will expand within the channel, with the proximal end of the spring moving in a proximal direction, and 
 (e) a pull wire having a proximal end that is attached to the spring or the tab and a distal portion that extends to the anchor launcher, wherein when the proximal end of the spring moves in the proximal direction, the pull wire is pulled in the proximal direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is cylindrical, wherein the channels are distributed within the cylindrical housing, and wherein the tabs extend outside a circumference of the cylindrical housing. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a rotatable cap, wherein an interior surface of the cap defines a cylindrical void configured to surround the cylindrical housing, the interior surface having a single protrusion configured to sequentially push each of the tabs from the first position to the second position when the cap is rotated. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a rotatable cap, wherein an interior surface of the cap defines a cylindrical void configured to surround the cylindrical housing, the interior surface having a plurality of protrusions configured to simultaneously push a plurality of the tabs from the first position to the second position when the cap is rotated. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the pull wire is affixed directly to the spring or the tab. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pull wires is threaded through an individual corresponding aperture. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a collar with a plurality of apertures, wherein each of the pull wires is threaded through a respective aperture in the collar. 
     
     
       8. A method for triggering a plurality of anchor launchers, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of actuators housed in a cylindrical housing, each of the actuators having 
 (a) a channel that runs through the housing in a proximal-to-distal direction, 
 (b) a shoulder disposed adjacent to the channel, 
 (c) a compressed spring disposed in a distal portion of the channel, the spring having a fixed distal end and a movable proximal end, wherein the channel is configured to permit expansion of the spring in a proximal direction, 
 (d) a tab that is affixed to the proximal end of the spring, wherein the tab is configured to be movable between (i) a first position in which movement of the tab in a proximal direction is blocked by the shoulder, and (ii) a second position in which movement of the tab in a proximal direction is not blocked by the shoulder, 
 wherein the channel, the shoulder, the spring, and the tab are configured so that that when the tab is moved from the first position to the second position, the spring will expand within the channel, with the proximal end of the spring moving in a proximal direction, and 
 (e) a pull wire having a proximal end that is attached to the spring or the tab and a distal portion that extends to the anchor launcher, wherein when the proximal end of the spring moves in the proximal direction, the pull wire is pulled in the proximal direction, 
 wherein the channels are distributed within the cylindrical housing, and wherein the tabs extend outside a circumference of the cylindrical housing; and 
 providing a rotatable cap configured so that an interior surface of the cap defines a cylindrical void configured to surround the cylindrical housing, the interior surface having at least one protrusion configured to push each of the tabs from the first position to the second position when the cap is rotated. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to sequentially push each of the tabs from the first position to the second position when the cap is rotated. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to simultaneously push a plurality of the tabs from the first position to the second position when the cap is rotated. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for triggering a plurality of anchor launchers, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of actuators housed in a housing, each of the actuators having
 (a) a channel that runs through the housing in a proximal-to-distal direction, 
 (b) a compressed spring disposed in a distal portion of the channel, the spring having a fixed distal end and a movable proximal end, wherein the channel is configured to permit expansion of the spring in a proximal direction, 
 (c) a member that is movable between (i) a first position at which the member prevents the spring from expanding in the proximal direction, and (ii) a second position at which the member allows the spring to expand in the proximal direction, 
 wherein the channel, the spring, and the member are configured so that that when the member is moved from the first position to the second position, the spring will expand within the channel, with the proximal end of the spring moving in a proximal direction, and 
 (d) a pull wire arranged with respect to the spring so that when the proximal end of the spring moves in the proximal direction, the pull wire is pulled in the proximal direction. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a structure configured to sequentially push each of the members from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a structure configured to simultaneously push all the members from the first position to the second position.